By MOLLY YANITY, P-I REPORTER

Published 9:00 pm, Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Two weeks ago, Louis Rankin ran for 103 yards against California, the 11th-ranked team in the nation.

There was a problem with that, though.

Rankin also lost 15 yards, leaving the Washington tailback with a net of 88, and five of the yards he lost came on a first-and-goal play in overtime. Quarterback Carl Bonnell threw an interception on the next play to end the Huskies' upset bid.

Rankin had nine rushes for zero or negative yards. Three of those wrong-way runs came on third-and-1.

"That was me taking too long to read it," Rankin said.

Offensive coordinator Tim Lappano had to ask Rankin to do something against his nature -- run forward.

"His strength is outside on the perimeter, making somebody miss," Lappano said. "Let's face it, we all know he's gifted in the open field. He's made someone miss every game. But inside the tackle box, he's got to get downhill."

Lappano said he preached that philosophy to Rankin last week before the Huskies played Arizona State. Rankin, who started in place of the injured Kenny James, ran for 67 net yards. He had just one rush for negative yardage.

"I thought Louis tried to run hard," Lappano said. "He caught a bunch of balls for us, and I really think he tried to be more physical."

Rankin said coaches told him to take what the defense gave -- if it meant a 6-yard gain, take it, because not everything can be broken for 60 yards.

"I feel like I can hit it up in there on down-and-distance, and if something happens, I can break a couple tackles and break a big one," he said.

Rankin didn't have a run longer than nine yards against Arizona State, but coach Tyrone Willingham said that wasn't completely Rankin's fault.

"There were four runs that had big-play potential if we executed some things that would put him in that position," Willingham said.

Rankin should continue to get plenty of carries, though Lappano said James is expected to play Saturday at Oregon after he sprained his right ankle at Cal.

James has started eight of the nine games, but Rankin leads the team in carries (112) and yards (510).

JOHNIE ON THE BALL: Tight end Johnie Kirton, who was a star running back at Mill Creek's Jackson High School, made his first career carry in the first quarter against Arizona State, a 1-yard run on a second-and-1 play.

"I thought he slammed it in there pretty good, and that's something we want to stay with," Lappano said.

But a 105-degree fever took Kirton out almost immediately after.

He said he had an infected hair follicle on his chin and the infection spread to his bloodstream.

Kirton said he tried to hide from team trainers until he began seeing double. He went immediately to an emergency room and was administered antibiotics.

Kirton, who rushed for 2,675 yards as a senior at Jackson, said he took a few snaps in the backfield every day last week. He said he figures the play calls will continue to be short-yardage or goal-line calls, but hopes to see some in the open field.

"I haven't been able to make any open-field plays. I'd catch a deep ball, and the defense is always there," he said. "I just have to show (the coaches) that I'm versatile so they know for a fact (they can go to me)."

Kirton has 10 receptions for 73 yards and three touchdowns.

SONNY PRAISE: In Tuesday's weekly Pac-10 coaches conference call, Oregon State's Mike Riley was asked to name some of the league's best playmakers. He named Washington's Sonny Shackelford.

"Shackelford is a good player," Riley said. "When (quarterback Isaiah) Stanback was going with him, they were a great duo."

Shackelford ranks seventh in the Pac-10 in receiving yards per game (61.6) and has 38 catches for 554 yards and six touchdowns. He also has passed for a touchdown.

DUCKS ON THE MEND: Timberline High product Jonathan Stewart, Oregon's starting running back, is recovering from an abdominal strain that limited him last weekend. Coach Mike Bellotti said he expects Stewart to be fine for Washington's visit Saturday.

"He's a tough kid and is excited for this game," Bellotti said.

Starting left guard Josh Tschirgi and right tackle Geoff Schwartz did not play last week in Oregon's victory over Portland State, but are expected to play against the Huskies.